Journal
AQUATIC BOTANY
Volume 97, Issue 1, Pages 10-16Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2011.10.004
Keywords
Ammonium uptake; Constructed wetland; Nitrate uptake; Umbrella sedge; Vetiver grass; Water spinach
Categories
Funding
- Thailand Research Fund
- Commission on Higher Education [MRG5280224]
- Danish Council
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This study assesses the growth and morphological responses, nitrogen uptake and nutrient allocation in four aquatic macrophytes when supplied with different inorganic nitrogen treatments (1) NH4+, (2) NO3-, or (3) both NH4+ and NO3-. Two free-floating species (Salvinia cucullata Roxb. ex Bory and Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.) and two emergent species (Cyperus involucratus Rottb. and Vetiveria zizanioides (L) Nash ex Small) were grown with these N treatments at equimolar concentrations (500 mu M). Overall, the plants responded well to NH4+. Growth as RGR was highest in S. cucullata (0.12 +/- 0.003 d(-1)) followed by I. aquatica (0.035 +/- 0.002 d(-1)), C. involucratus (0.03 +/- 0.002 d(-1)) and V. zizanioides (0.02 +/- 0.003 d(-1)). The NH4+ uptake rate was significantly higher than the NO3- uptake rate. The free-floating species had higher nitrogen uptake rates than the emergent species. The N-uptake rate differed between plant species and seemed to be correlated to growth rate. All species had a high NO3- uptake rate when supplied with only NO3-. It seems that the NO3- transporters in the plasma membrane of the root cells and nitrate reductase activity were induced by external NO3-. Tissue mineral contents varied with species and tissue, but differences between treatments were generally small. We conclude, that the free-floating S. cucullata and I. aquatica are good candidate species for use in constructed wetland systems to remove N from polluted water. The rooted emergent plants can be used in subsurface flow constructed wetland systems as they grow well on any form of nitrogen and as they can develop a deep and dense root system. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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